SHANGHAI, Oct. 17 (AP) -- General Motors Corp. and its joint ventures in China saw sales jump 36.7 percent in the first three quarters of this year, helped by strong demand for newly introduced models such as the Buick LaCrosse and Chevrolet Lova, the company said late Monday.

The 645,680 vehicles sold by GM, Shanghai GM and SAIC-GM-Wuling were a record for the company, GM said in a statement.

"Both our new vehicles such as the Buick LaCrosse and Chevrolet Lova, and more established models such as the Buick Excelle and Buick GL8 families have performed well this year in China's highly competitive marketplace," it quoted Kevin Wale, president and managing director of the GM China Group, as saying.